Princess Mononoke (1997)

Where it left its mark

Napier calls it Miyazaki's most significant feature, a "new chapter" defined by intermingled themes and unprecedented scope. The production was longer and costlier than any prior Ghibli output, demanding "almost superhuman efforts" that left senior staff exhausted and Miyazaki "overtaxed." He resigned in 1998, claiming he physically could not continue, only to return for Spirited Away. The film also stands as the first where Miyazaki directly referenced scholarly writing, cementing his status as a bunkajin. Alongside Neon Genesis Evangelion, it helped establish anime as a subject for academic study. McCarthy notes it offered a novel view of femininity, though Miyazaki later reverted to traditional archetypes. It turned him into an icon of contemporary Japanese cinema.